A Word In Your Ear - June 9, 2016

There were no neighbours to disturb. We were in the countryside, not of Argentina but of Wyre. In fact, we had just relished a fish and chips supper at Farmer Parr’s Animal World, on Rossall Lane in Fleetwood.

The popular children’s farm park accommodates ‘over 50 species of rare breeds and odd beasts’. However, we dancers were caught in the soft, sophisticated lights of the family-run site’s hidden gem – its spectacular Crown Ballroom.

She Who Knows and I had attended afternoon tea dances there before, but last Saturday was its Big Summer Bash, also tying in with the Blackpool Dance Championships.

Crown owner Alison Clare Slinger had organised a cabaret from world ballroom champions Warren and Kristi Boyce. “You don’t know how fortunate you are living here!” declared Warren, full of praise for the spacious, immaculate dance-floor. Certainly, this glittering couple’s inspiration put some tingle back into my tango before our short drive home – while the champions were journeying back to Bournemouth.

Warren was right. We are blessed with dance venues on our coast. A previous Saturday night we were in a ballroom at St Annes Palace. This is a beautifully renovated suite of rooms in the heart of town, just above Market Hall in Garden Street.

Early last century, when St Annes was little more than 25 years old, this building was the public hall and assembly rooms. It later housed the Picturedome then, by 1922, was extended to the Palace Cinema and Cafe, including a restaurant, concert hall and ballroom. It has since been restored by a dedicated Friends group and Freemasons, who owned it from 1958.

So there you are! Why don’t you enjoy the next dance and sparkle a little?

* For Roy’s books visit www.royedmonds-blackpool.